Opposition disappointed over state’s Vidarbha reply

The Opposition legislators in the state assembly staged a dharna on Wednesday to express their deep disappointment over the government's reply to the five-hour debate on irrigation and industrial backlogs of the Vidarbha region.

The Opposition legislators in the state assembly staged a dharna on Wednesday to express their deep disappointment over the government's reply to the five-hour debate on irrigation and industrial backlogs of the Vidarbha region. The opposition did not allow proceedings in the lower house to continue, stating that there was nothing concrete in the minister for water resources Sunil Tatkare's reply.

Lashing out at the government, leader of the opposition Eknath Khadse said the reply has shown that the government was not at all serious over the burning issues of Vidarbha. "The minister has conveniently ignored the urgent need to remove the physical backlog in irrigation in the region, which is reeling under an agrarian crisis because of poor irrigation facilities," said Khadse.

Heeding to Khadse's plea for intervention, speaker Dilip Walse-Patil agreed that the winter session be dedicated to the problems of the region and directed Tatkare to hold a special meeting in his chambers with legislators to sort out the matter. Only after the speaker's assurance, did the opposition members give up their protest and let the question hour begin.

Responding to the debate on poor industrial growth and irrigation under-development in Vidarbha, Tatkare listed out the measures the government had taken till date for the Vidarbha region's growth. About the industry in Vidarbha, he said over the last 50 years, 25,000 small-scale units were functioning in the region, which employ 2.40 lakh people. Tatkare added that there were proposals for 1,426 new units bringing in investment of Rs20,000 crore. Of the 169 large-scale industries cleared in the state, 56 are to be located in Vidarbha. Together, they have an investment potential of Rs37,400 crore, claimed the minister.

On the irrigation front, Tatkare had to face the Opposition's ire as he said the backlog in economic terms was almost removed.